Toshiba hypes it's own flash memory format.
SMARTMEDIAT IS REMOVABLE STORAGE SOLUTION
OF CHOICE IN NEW DIGITAL CAMERAS FROM AGFA
AND OLYMPUS AMERICA, INC.
LAS VEGAS, Nev., November 17, 1997 -- Toshiba America
Electronic Components, Inc. today announced that two of the industry's
leading camera manufacturers, including Agfa, a division of Bayer Corp.,
and Olympus America, Inc., have recently introduced digital still cameras
which offer a direct connection to the SmartMediaT' (also known as
SSFDC) small form factor removable storage device.
SmartMedia is a semiconductor-based memory card designed to
address the need for a compact and reliable storage medium for
emerging portable and handheld applications. SmartMedia can be used
in conjunction with a PC Card adapter for use with PCMCIA slots in
portable applications. A 3.5-inch floppy disk adapter is also available to
provide a seamless interface to desktop PCs. This makes data transfer
approximately ten times faster than using a serial port. SmartMedia is
available in 2MB, 4MB and 8MB versions with higher densities in
development.
"The digital still camera market is developing at a rapid pace," according
to Susan Moyse, industry consultant for InfoTrends Research Group,
Inc. "We predict the market to grow from $422 million in 1997 to $1.13
billion in 2002. Toshiba's SmartMedia is gaining ground as a storage
standard because it is being designed into cameras which are poised to
succeed in the marketplace. Another significant benefit will be the
forthcoming 3.5-inch floppy disk adapter, that will make SmartMedia
cards a truly universal type of media, and therefore, a desirable storage
solution for many camera manufacturers."
Agfa:
Launched in November 1997, the ePhoto 780 is the latest affordable,
feature-rich digital still camera offered from Agfa. The ePhoto 780
features Agfa's PhotoGenie image enhancement technology, also used in
the company's top-of-the-line ePhoto 1280, to achieve best-in-class
image quality (1024 x 768 pixels or XGA) from the camera's 350,000
pixel CCD sensor. Agfa PhotoGenie enhances images as they are
downloaded to the computer and represents a new standard in image
enhancement technology. Using PhotoGenie, images captured at the
highest resolution mode (780) are reconstructed using artificial
intelligence techniques to produce images which rival the quality of those
captured with more expensive XGA cameras. At lower resolution
settings, PhotoGenie will remove JPEG artifacts, pixelation, jagged edges
and posterization. The ePhoto 780 also features a
one-image-per-second typical processing speed and a 1.8-inch color
LCD.
The company's ePhoto 1280, announced in September 1997, provides
photo-quality, 1.2 million pixel images and includes a 2-inch, high
resolution color LCD. The ePhoto 1280 also includes the FlashTrackT
3x optical swivel zoom lens, a movable lens that permits maximum
flexibility when taking hard-to-get photos by providing a flash that
remains in line with the lens at all times. The ePhoto 780 and ePhoto
1280 come with a 2MB and 4MB SmartMedia memory card
respectively and both cameras come complete with cables (PC,
Macintosh and TV), software and batteries. A battery charger is also
included with the ePhoto 1280.
Agfa plans to introduce additional camera models which use
SmartMedia in the near future.
Olympus:
Olympus America's Digital & Imaging Systems Group offers a number of
digital cameras, including the D-220L, D-320L, D-500L and D-600L,
which utilize SmartMedia technology. Each of these models is equipped
with three imaging modes to allow for variable image size and image
capacity. A TWAIN acquire filter, four-mode autoflash (including
"red-eye" reduction, force-fill - more-flash, automatic low-light and
back-light mode), software and software plug-ins also accompany each
product.
The D-220L and D-320L digital still cameras offer high quality resolution
(640 x 480 and 1024 x 768, respectively), f-stop light compensation
adjustment and a two-inch smudge-resistant LCD screen. The compact
size (5 inches x 2.6 inches x 1.8 inches) and light weight (nine ounces)
allow for ease of portability.
The D-500L and the D-600L digital still cameras offer even higher
variable resolutions (1024 x 768 and 640 x 480 for the D-500L; 1280 x
1024 and 640 x 512 for the D-600L). Other features include the
three-times zoom lens, Progressive Scan Charged Coupled Device
(CCD), which allows for image capture in a single pass, and an LCD
screen capable of previewing up to nine images simultaneously. The
D-220L, D-320L and D-500-L include a 2MB SmartMedia card, while
the D-600L includes the 4MB version.
Olympus has received a number of awards and industry accolades for its
digital cameras. These include:
"Editor's Choice," Family Photo for D-220L
"Best of Show," Macworld Boston for D-320L
"Most Compelling Digital Capture," Advanced Digital Photo
Forum for D-320L
"MVP Awards (finalist)," PC/Computing for D-320L
"PC/Computing 5 Star Rating," PC/Computing for D-320L
"Technical Excellence Award (finalist)," PC Magazine for D-320L
"Best Product, Hardware," RetailVision Fall '97 for Entire Digital
Product Line
"Best Buy Rating," Consumer's Digest for D-320L
"5 Star Rating," Digital Focus for D-500L
"Impact Award Winner for Product of the Year," Publish
Magazine for D-600L
"Best of What's New - Grand Award, Photography," Popular
Science for D-600L
"Editor's Choice Award," PC Photo Magazine for Entire Digital
Product Line
Additional Cameras Utilizing SmartMedia
SmartMedia has already been designed into various digital camera
models from a number of leading manufacturers. These include:
Apple QuickTake 200
Epson PhotoPC 550
Fuji DS-7
Fuji DS-8
Fuji DX-5
Fuji DX-7
Minolta Dimage V
Toshiba PDR-2A
Sega Digio
Sanyo DSC-X1
SmartMedia Advantages:
SmartMedia combines small size with simple architecture, consisting of a
single NAND flash electrically erasable programmable read only
memory chip embedded in a thin plastic card measuring one third the size
of a standard credit card. This simple design offers the most
cost-effective small form factor memory device available. NAND flash
memory provides fast write and erase functions plus high-speed read
with minimal power consumption.
In addition, Toshiba's Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) technology will
allow for smaller cell size at the 256 megabit density and beyond.
Beyond digital still camera applications, SmartMedia technology can also
be utilized in other portable applications. Audio recorders such as
Voice-It, Thomson and Sycom use the small memory card for additional
audio storage. Cellular phone and personal digital assistants (such as the
Toshiba Genio) utilize the SmartMedia to enable advanced capabilities
such as receiving e-mail and faxes. Since the SmartMedia incorporates
non-volatile flash memory, and therefore - requires no battery back-up,
it is the ideal memory storage alternative for medical devices which
provide portability between patient and physician.
Pricing and Availability:
Please contact each camera manufacturer directly for pricing and
availability. For Agfa, contact Miller/Shandwick Technologies at (617)
351-4129, or the Agfa Web Site: http//www.agfahome.com/ephoto. For
Olympus, contact Olympus America Inc., Digital & Imaging Systems
Group, Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747-3157, phone:
(516) 844-5000, (800) 347-4027, fax: (516) 844-5262, or the
Olympus Web Site: olympus.com.
North America Marketing Arm of the SmartMedia Forum:
The North American marketing arm of the SmartMedia Forum is
comprised of some of the industry's leading companies including Hirose
Electric, Inc., Lexar Media, Inc., Phoenix Technologies, Ltd., Samsung
Semiconductor, Inc., Tokyo Electron America, Toshiba America
Electronic Components, Inc., and Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd. These
companies work in conjunction with the Forum in Japan to promote
SmartMedia worldwide as the small form factor storage media. The
Forum currently has 57 members and two working groups; a Technical
Working Group and a Marketing Promotion Group to assure
compatibility among SmartMedia-related products and to encourage
widespread application of SmartMedia. Additional information on the
SmartMedia Forum may be found on the Internet at www.ssfdc.com.
TAEC is the North American manufacturing, sales and marketing arm of
Toshiba Corporation, one of the world's largest suppliers of
semiconductors, integrated circuits and electronic components for
industrial and consumer applications. The company is the recognized
leader in CMOS technology and has one of the broadest IC product
lines in the industry. In addition, Toshiba is a leading manufacturer of
technologically advanced electron tubes and solid state devices, including
color picture tubes, display monitor tubes, liquid crystal displays, medical
tubes, rechargeable batteries, microwave components, laser diodes and
optical transmission devices.
The company is located at 9775 Toledo Way, Irvine, CA 92618-1811.
For more company information, please visit TAEC's Internet home page
at: toshiba.com.
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SmartMedia is a registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. |
